Tomas Borge

Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. The community will be the new site of the Katie Beth Carter Memorial School to be opened soon. When all phases of the school are finished it is estimated to serve 1000 students many of them with special needs. Theses images represent daily life in the growing community of Tomas Borge.

Mercedes ,85, gets emotional talking about her children at her home in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Jose Ramon ,54, looks for scrape medals under the trash at the dump in Tomas Borge.Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Reynardo ,21, looks for scrape medals under the trash at the dump in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Kevin ,5, is playing with his grandfather Jose at their home in tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Carman ,3, holds her doll at her home in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Natalie ,4, gets sits on her bed at her home in Tomas Borge.Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Bravlia a 16 year old student stands in her home in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

A young man trains fighting roosters in Tomas Borge.Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

A young boy holds onto his colt in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Justina makes her families income from recycling goods at the dump in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Bravlia, a 16 year old student, rides to the dump with her mother Justina ,52. Justina makes her families income from recycling goods at the dump in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Bravlia a 16 year student holds her doll at her home in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Bismark ,27, looks for scrape medals under the trash at the dump in Tomas Borge.Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Reynardo ,21, looks for scrape medals under the trash at the dump in Tomas Borge.Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Eulogy ,95, and her daughter at their home in Tomas Borge. They walk over 10 miles every day to beg for money at the market. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Eulogy ,95, walks over 10 miles every day to beg for money at the market. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Katherine ,2, sits outside her home in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Jetson sits on his bed in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Hugo , 34, sits on his bed in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Anna Maria Reyes and her baby at their home in Tomas Borge.Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Sabina ,54, cooks beans for her family which includes two specials needs members in Tomas Borge. Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)

Bismark ,27, looks for scrape medals under the trash at the dump in Tomas Borge.Tomas Borge is a community located a few miles outside of Leon, Nicaragua. It has 7 Barrios with about 6,000 families living there. For 50 years Tomas Borge was the city dump and the main income was recycling. Now the dump has been moved a few miles away, but is still the lifeblood of the community. A family working in the dump can expect to make a few dollars a day digging through trash. (Photo by Billy Weeks.)